Delhi to host 70th National School Games

Delhi will host the 70th National School Games in three phases, with more than 14,000 players and officials expected to participate in 14 sports disciplines, Education and Sports Minister Ashish Sood said on Friday.

Sood inaugurated the games at Thyagaraj Stadium here. Organised under the aegis of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), the event will bring together participants from States, Union Territories and other participating units across the country, according to a statement.

The first phase of the games is being held from October 23 to October 28, while the second phase will take place from October 30 to November 5. The third phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 3, 2027, it stated.

Addressing the gathering, Sood said the national-level school competitions were important for strengthening the country’s sports ecosystem and providing young athletes with opportunities to showcase their talent. He said the Delhi Government was working to promote sports and encourage young players to pursue careers in the field.

He added that initiatives such as Khelo India and Fit India helped bring sports and fitness into the mainstream.

Sood said athletes now have better opportunities to build careers in sports with improved training, modern facilities and financial incentives. The Government aims to help Delhi’s athletes perform well and win medals across the 14 disciplines being hosted in the Capital, he said.

The minister said arrangements had been made for playing fields, track and field facilities, sports equipment, security and medical assistance, and that accommodation, food and local transportation have also been arranged for teams arriving from different parts of the country.